As autumn leaves and winter gathers its winds, so change the types of films that arrive in the theater. This is “actor season,” when better films supplant the tapestry of summer choices. These seven films are all out now and one in particular is outstanding.
I use a “5 finger” scoring system, with 5 being superb and earning a HIGH FIVE, 4 excellent, 3 just a movie, 2 suitable only for free viewing and, since decorum prevents the use of a single digit, a film rated a complete zero is described as the “Dreaded Fist of Badness.” Since it is almost impossible to make a truly awful film that manages to get released, Fist of Badness efforts should allow paying audience members to pummel everyone involved in selling such a worthless effort.
Here are October’s seven popular films:
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day – 3 fingers. Entertaining family film about a day where everything goes wrong features a pleasant cast, brisk pace, and several laugh-out-loud moments with a scene stealing bonus performance from newcomer Bella Thorne.
Fury – 4 fingers. Brad Pitt’s new World War II tank movie set in Germany – which is pretty much The Alamo in armor – leaves no blood unshed and benefits from a strong supporting performance by Shia LaBeouf.
This is Where I Leave You – 2 fingers. Way too many characters muddle the story and slow down the pace of a film that relies on the breast implants of 76-year-old Jane Fonda and the potty training of an annoying little kid to provide its comedic moments.
St. Vincent – 3 fingers. Bill Murray’s curmudgeonly work as a broke (and broken down) fellow struggling to navigate the latter stages of a complicated life teams with a fun turn by pregnant hooker Naomi Watts to raise this film to a satisfying level despite its quasi-satisfying conclusion.
The Judge – 3 fingers. Robert Duvall and Robert Downey Jr. play emotional tennis at the net from start to finish as a strained father and son in this dramatic story of dueling egos at a time in life the bonds of family are tested by a struggle between pride, legacy, and mortality.
Ouija – 2 fingers. Short on gasps, this horror film is about a group of teenagers rubbed out, one by one, by female ghosts haunting their old home – but despite the grisly teenage deaths, none still living ever bother to mention the gruesome fatalities to adults, teachers, friends, or law officers – and strains credulity for even the most forgiving fright fans.
Birdman – 5 finger HIGH FIVE! This creative, high concept drama about a washed up actor (played by Michael Keaton) trying to rely on his previous notoriety as a movie superhero in order to launch a successful Broadway play is not perfect – but it’s awful darn close.
I will be traveling for the next few days and then attend a film festival with advance tickets for a dozen screenings. November will be a movie crazy time, which is always a lot of fun.
See you at the theater!